In 2014, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) launched our “Run Bernie Run” campaign, making us the first national organization to call for Bernie Sanders to run for President. Then, after successfully drafting Bernie, PDA supported Senator Sanders’ historic campaign that transformed American politics.

Bernie brought a wide-range of progressive policies from the margins to the center of the national dialogue. He inspired a new generation to become active in politics. Now, we are once again calling on Senator Sanders to run for President, launching Run Bernie Run 2.0!

Of course, the race for the Democratic nomination in 2020 will be very different from 2016. Many prominent Democrats are expected to run, including possibly our advisory board member and climate champion, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, and other progressives that everyone in PDA admires. A formal PDA endorsement will be forthcoming (well in advance of the Iowa Caucuses in February 2020), taking into account the field at that time, the potential to win, and the views of our grassroots activists.

Then, why call for Bernie in particular to run for President? Two simple reasons: first, the 2020 Democratic Presidential primaries are going to engage the entire country, and the world, on the most fundamental questions of our time. We at PDA feel that it is 100% essential that candidate Bernie Sanders be a prominent voice in that national dialogue.

During the 2016 campaign, Bernie gave voice to sentiments felt by millions upon millions of Americans that had previously found no expression in mainstream American politics. Bernie broke new ground on wealth inequality, health care, education, climate change, criminal justice, foreign policy, the list goes on. We know that Senator Sanders will do the same and even more in 2020.

Conversely, if Bernie Sanders doesn’t run, if the most popular politician in the country stays on the sidelines, the forces in American politics that support the status quo (e.g. money in politics, a corporate-controlled media, “lesser evilism,” etc.) are so powerful that the issues Bernie brought forward could once again be marginalized; even though his policies have huge public support.

At this hour of our history, we need to hear from America’s strongest advocate for working people, for honest democracy, and a courageous response to the climate emergency. We need Bernie Sanders on the main stage!

Secondly, Bernie Sanders is prepared to lead the United States. PDA does not want a Medicare for All gradualist or a money-in-politics or voting rights gradualist. We do not want a candidate too timid to address the realities of institutional racism, and most certainly, we cannot support a climate change gradualist. On all of these issues and more, Bernie Sanders has demonstrated that he has the courage and vision to lead.

He’s in amazing health. His demanding tour this summer and fall demonstrated his physical and mental vitality. One of our National staff saw him in Maryland a few days before the election. He was energized by the crowd and gave a rousing speech. The packed house went wild.